Explosion halts oil loading at Oman's Mina al Fahal terminal

An explosion at Oman's Mina al Fahal terminal temporarily halted oil loading operations, according to sources familiar with the matter. The blast occurred between the terminal's SBM 1 and SBM 2 berths, the sources said. It was not immediately clear when the attack took place. Shipping data from LSEG showed several supertankers anchored off the port on Friday.

Following reports of a temporary suspension, operations at Oman's Mina Al Fahal port have resumed and are proceeding normally, the Oman News Agency reported Friday, citing a statement from Petroleum Development Oman (PDO). Two people familiar with the matter told Reuters news agency that sources pointed to an alleged drone attack as the cause.

The Mina al Fahal incident comes days after Iranian state media reported that Tehran had targeted a U.S. military ship hosting a "control and command center" while it was approaching Iranian territorial waters in the Gulf of Oman.

According to Mehr News, the explosion and subsequent suspension of oil loading highlight ongoing tensions in the region, particularly near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil shipments. The report by Mehr News added that the incident underscores the volatile security situation in the Gulf of Oman.